Moses Itauma‘s fight with Filip Hrgovic has been made all the more significant with the news that the winner of the contest will become the next IBF world champion.
Itauma is still just 21 years old and would become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion ever after Mike Tyson, who was 20, if he comes out victorious.
Hrgovic is a big step up though and has lost only to Daniel Dubois so far, with victories over the likes of Dave Allen, David Adeleye and Zhilei Zhang on his record.
Itauma, meanwhile, has won all 14 of his contests to date, 12 of them by KO, and all of those within the first six rounds, including becoming the first man to stop American Jermina Franklin, and beating former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in round one.
Speaking to DAZN Boxing, he was asked if the belt being on the line added more pressure.
“Not really, the belts just come with the performance. With boxing Hrgovic I was taking him serious, and now the belt is on the line, I still take him serious. I want to beat him as much as I did before the belt was on the line.
“Of course, it will be an honour. I’d love to be a world champion, but it’s about Filip Hrgovic himself.
Itauma has previously said he is as interested in collecting names as he is belts, and was asked which he prefers.
“Probably the names.”
This quietly assured fighter would be bagging both a world title belt and a big name if he could secure an impressive victory over Hrgovic on August 29th, and already knows he would have to face the mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez next.
